Note to reader: I left at 1pm as I had another engagement so I don’t know what happened in the second half. Do tell if you know.
At an event yesterday organised by The Alternative in deepest Soho I was annoyed to discover that the place had no wireless access and my 3G card didn’t work as we were in the basement. Avery nice basement but nonetheless reception was rubbish.
The event was entitled “The New Brand Tribalism” and not being able to pump up my pc to tweet and share with the world what was going on was incredibly annoying. My tribal behaviour towards this brand was no off to a good start.
Note to all event organisers, wireless is as much an essential these days as tea and coffee.
My initial thought before going to this event were that I wonder how much people like Seth Godin and a whole host of others would come up. Not once unless I fell asleep. Seth has his critics and I’m no fan-boy but c’mon, give a word for those that came before.
Anyway, to cut a long story short, I didn’t feel that there was anything “new” here. Lots of talk of being authentic but the also more on being controlling. To my mind that sounded like, try and look like you are authentic. Kind of the opposite of being authentic. I was expecting more about giving employees brand permission, about employees being involved in the decisions that matter to them, the stuff that makes me come to work.
There were some mentions of brand ambassadors but it felt like that some gimmick or other had to be run so as employees would then go and talk about it. Quick fixes fade quick too.
Actually one statement that stuck in my mind went something like, ” We can take the tribal behaviours and control and shape them for the business.” To me that sounds like they way you kill it.
Great chats though with a couple of gents, those were insightful conversations on what is really happening, success and failures, fear and desire. Wish I also got to meet Joanne and Rach who also attended.

At present our Internal Comms function is preparing for our 4Q and end of year results. Local video has been recorded of our CGM which will be released internally after the corporate announcement. But I think it will have to be pretty bad or pretty amazing to knock some guy called Obama off the news headlines on his first day of his new job.
The journalist that came to interview us last week sent us a few photos he took. 

Sad to say that most others are little better. Why oh why do local authorities go on about saving the planet, reducing our driving and improving our health by getting out of our cars, walk, cycle or take public transport when rubbish like this is what you get – and at the new Eurotunnel station.



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